FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pam Burpee       

Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative

priresources@haltpoverty.org

269-615-2001

EX-OFFENDERS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Kingdom Minded Ministries to Feed the Hungry at Project Connect

KALAMAZOO, MI – May 5, 2011 

Attendees at the May 11 Project Connect event at the Kalamazoo Expo Center will have a free lunch served by a group of ex-offender trainees working their way back into the good graces of society through the 16-week food service program of Kingdom Minded Ministries, Kingdom Kitchen Catering.

KMM is one of around 60 local organizations donating services to Project Connect. The semi-annual one-day event brings local agencies, community service providers, and business partners together to assist up to 1,000 area residents in need.

Project Connect includes a wide range of free services, available between 12 pm and 5 pm, including: medical and dental screenings; financial and legal resources; children's services; housing and food assistance; employment and education; and haircuts and mending. Free transportation is available by shuttle bus or a special Metro bus pass.

David Gholston, founder and Executive Director of KMM, heard about Project Connect through the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation's Bryan Zocher, whose organization supports the KMM and is helping to fund the food supplies for Project Connect.

"Bryan said 'You can do this,'" says Gholston. "I checked it out and wanted our program to get more involved." Helping with Project Connect fits in with KMM's mission to encourage social activism and community responsibility. "We were all takers. Now we want to give back."

Pam Burpee, the Program & Resource Developer for the Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative and an AmeriCorps VISTA, coordinates food and donations for the event. Finding someone to feed 1,200-1,500 visitors and volunteers is not an easy task.

"Due to the economy in Michigan, everyone is struggling. To ask a restaurant or caterer to provide food for 1,000 or more is almost impossible," says Burpee. "So when I heard about David and Kingdom Kitchen Catering, I knew they would be the perfect fit for Project Connect."

Gholston's second class of trainees will be busy preparing lunch while they learn leadership and life skills-a healthy vegetable soup, pork sandwiches, fruit salad and dessert-two days before the event. His only concern is that there will be enough food if there are more attendees than expected. "We ordered what we think we'll need."

The supplies will be purchased with money donated to Project Connect via the Poverty Reduction Initiative, a local non-profit organization with a mission to reduce poverty in Kalamazoo County. Along with the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the PRI has received grants from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and State Farm Insurance towards providing food. Anyone wishing to donate can contact Pam Burpee at 269.615.2001. KMM also accepts donations. Contact David Gholston at 269.312.0931.

More information on Project Connect can be found online at http://projectconnectkalamazoo.blogspot.com. KMM's website is www.kmmfoodservicetraining.org.

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